The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1887-01-22


felt convinced the moment Ralph first set
his eyes upon her, that sooner or later she
would break his heart
wonder why the thought never struck
me that she, poor governess, would be
glad to win him for husband. But II
meyer did.
There was not the least sign of coquetry
about her, nor did she seem to care at all
for his attentions,
She accepted them quietly, smilingly,
when she could not well eyade them yet l
always felt that she would rather he did
not offer them.
l liked her for that, though could not
4 get over the idea that she would be his
fate.
One day, very late in November, the sun
shone radantly and an almost summer
warmth .pervaded the atmosphere.
/ Tempted by the beauty of the scene,
donned my hat and cloak and went for a
stroll in the leaness woods. l had not
gone fur when the sound of Ralphs voice
struck my ear.
1t was strained and despairing, and he
was saying, oh! how earnestly:
For Gods sake, Flora, give me little
hope?'
'Haye not told you there is noneP"
heard her answer, almost desperately; 81
desire that you will never mention this
subject again, Mr.. Percval."
Not caring to play the eavesdropper, l
walked away and joined the children, who
were at play some distance further on.
Miss Grandson and Ralph had not seen
me. But my blood was boiling at the
thought of Ralph suffering through her.
When | saw him again the poor boy
looked as white and miserable as ghost.
The next day he left us for an indefinite
/ time, pleading some business excuse, but
l knew well what had driven him away.
l loved him dearly, and could hardly
bear the loneliness of the house after he
was gone.
AT last, eXasperated by her calm, queen
ly loveliness, when my own heart was ach-
ing so, vented my sorrow and displeasure
| upon Miss Grandson.
She was sitting by the widow, reading,
and she just raised her eyes to give me one
long, steady look, slightly mingled with
surprise, lhen dropped them to her book
again without one word.
then told her what had overheard and
repeated, angrily, that it was her fault that
Ralph had gone away.
81 am sorry" she said quietly, "that
you heard what you did. No one would
ever have known of your brothers disap-
pointment from me: But surely, Miss
PerGiYal, you cannot say that have ever
encouraged his unfortunate love either by
word or look"
was forced to acknowledge that she
had not.
But, since he did love you, in spite of
all, why should you have refused him, Miss
Grandson? Is not Ralph yonng,rlch, hand
some, and good enough for any woman on
earth?"
"IIe is all that, Miss Percival," she re-
piled, almost sadly.
"Then, why"
81 have no love to give" she interrupted
hastily; "and, even could love any one,
have not the right"
''Not the right?" I repeated. ''Then
you are engaged to some other"
"No," she said quietly, but / saw the
crimson in her cheeks begin to deepen.
because / am already Wife"
"a wife" l cried, in amazement.
"You?"
"Yes, Miss Percival-Ip
Already angry with her before this adj
mission, her words drove me quite beyond
my yower of self-control, and my voice was
full of bitter scorn. Yet it was no match
for the quiet, intense scorn in hers, as she
rose to her full queenly height, her dark
eyes glittering like stars, and the crimson
spots in her creamy cheeks glowing like
the burning heart of the richest, reddest
rose.
In all our acquaintance had never adj /.
mired her so much as | did that moment |
But, remembering the wrong she had done
my brother, felt no kinduess toward her |
"Pray explain, if you can, Miss Grandi
son." | said, in my coolest tone, "why you
entered this house under false character
in which pou won my brothers heart, only
to break it. What have you to say to
that?"
Nothing, except that your brother
knows all have to tell, and do not feel .
called upon to disclose my whole troubles .
to the world If you deem me unfit for the .
position | hold in your house, Miss Perci- /
val, viii go elsewhere"
you may" | answered collly.
was asla ed of my unkindness, even .
as / spoke, but, believing her, just then, to .
be a designing woman, the calm composure .
of her manner angered me until neither
spoke nor acted like myself.
Every WE'LL" she sald; and my heart
smote me at the doa,hly pallor of her face
as she turned to leave the room.
At that instant servant handed me a
letter from Ralph, and l tore il open and
read it where l stood. Such a letter!-ex-
planning why he had gone away, and de-
claring that Miss Grandson, whom he pro-
nOunced the best and noblest OF women,
was not to blame for his folly. He ended
by begging me to be kind TO her, and not
to allow her to leaYe our home SO long as
she needed such position.
Independently, l placed the letter in